Pirates: Invincible from the Start

He had a feeling.

Once he was another year older, his physical abilities would at least double from where they stood now.

By then, his strength, his stamina, and the Armament Haki so closely tied to his body would all reach their peak.

He believed that when the time came, he would truly become the World's Strongest.

"All right, enough talk."

Kuta seized the collar around the burly man's neck and squeezed.

Crack!

He snapped the collar, pulled it off the man's neck, and flung it to his right.

Boom!

The moment the collar left Kuta's hand, it rapidly swelled as it flew to his right, then exploded in a burst of sparks.

At the sound, everyone turned toward the stretch of sea now shrouded in thick smoke.

Surprise filled their eyes.

None of them had expected the thing to be so powerful.

The blast was every bit as strong as a cannonball.

When they thought of the man wearing that thing around his neck all this time, they couldn't help looking at him with pity.

"Poor guy."

"Living with that collar must have been awful!"

The burly man stood still and raised both hands to his neck. His fingers paused when they touched the marks the collar had left behind.

Then he pressed his whole hand against his neck, feeling the warmth of his skin.

It's really off.

That slave collar—the source of so much humiliation—is really off.

With that thought, he lowered his hand, turned to Kuta, and bowed once more.

He couldn't speak in full sentences. This was the only way he could express his gratitude.

Looking at the man, Kuta finally showed his first hint of a smile since coming aboard.

This time, he didn't reach out to help him up. He turned and headed toward